San Francisco Loft Living

History

Lofts have existed in San Francisco for many years and until the late 1980s were occupied mainly by artists and small businesses. It was only a matter of time until real-estate developers would see a potential gold mine in the many abandoned warehouses and factories surrounding the bay shorelines. In 1988 the city passed a Live/Work ordinance, designed to help artists and craftspeople maintain their housing and studio needs. This ordinance blended the city's residential and commercial building codes. Some of the features of the Live/Work legislation included:

1. exemption from school fees
2. no requirement for Americans With Disabilities (ADA) compliance
3. 10% affordable units were not required
4. relaxed parking requirements

Within a few years the Dot-Com boom hit San Francisco. During the 1990s over 80,000 new residents, many of them affluent professionals, computer programmers and hi-tech employees, arrived in search of housing. During this same period only 10,000 new housing units were built. This resulted in a large market for luxury lofts, condos, "tenants-in-common" (TIC) conversions. Needless to say, developers (San Francisco Residential Builder's Association) were quick to seize upon the opportunity and suddenly lofts were sprouting up everywhere, particularily in the South Of Market (SOMA) and East Mission districts.

The Dot-Com boom has fizzled but the lofts remain.

San Francisco Lofts

Many lofts in the city are the result of warehouse and factory conversions, while others have been newly constructed from the ground up. A genuine loft consists of a main floor with high ceilings (16-18 feet) and a second-floor mezzanine level (the loft) holding one or two bedrooms. Some single-floor condos are being marketed as lofts. Loft owners tend to be single professionals, DINKS (dual-income-no-kids) or retirees.

Loft Living Advantages

If you've been caught in gridlock on the Bay Bridge during rush hour, you will see one of the main reasons that folks opt for the loft lifestyle. As a matter of fact, you may not even require a car. Shopping is usually nearby and the Bay Area Transit (BART) system may be only a block away. If you work from home, as many of us do these days, the notion of a combined studio workspace and living quarters appeals to many. Some loft units offer breathtaking views of the city and bay.

Location, location...

While the lion's share of San Francisco lofts are found in the SOMA and Mission districts, they can also be found in Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, and most recently, Bayview and Hunters Point.

But I don't have a million

Loft prices begin in the low $600k's for a 1 bedroom 1,000 square foot home and prices can easily rise into the millions. This is where the services of a professional realtor can save you qute a bit of time. As with all other San Francisco real estate, good buys don't remain on the market for very long. A knowledgeable realtor can be on a constant lookout for new listings, informing you when good prospective homes are listed.

Searching for a new San Francisco loft

After registering here we will contact you to begin your search.